The Powerful Persuasion of Line

Most well-thought-out drawings, even at the most basic level, always begin with the powerful persuasion of line. 

Artwork by Christy Olsen

Definition of Line

LINE noun. A long, narrow mark on a surface.

In geometry, a line is anything formed by connecting two points. In the Visual Arts, a one-dimensional mark on a surface is created by "mark-making." 

Lines as Communication

In the visual arts, 'line' is the most basic form of communication. Lines may also enhance the mood, invoke feelings, or stir an emotional response from the viewer.

Depending on our tools, we can create lines that make an object feel sharp, jagged, man-made, graceful, smooth, or organic. For Example, perfectly straight lines feel artificial or man-made, whereas squiggles feel more organic.

Falling Tree

A diagonal line expresses action, movement, or motion. It can be perceived as either rising or falling and is dynamic. Think of a forest. Right before it hits the ground, a falling tree can be communicated a diagonal among a sea of other trees, the vertical straight lines.

Diagonals are emotionally "active," meaning they engage the viewer by representing a freeze-frame of motion that has occurred or is about to happen. In contrast, a horizontal line is emotionally "passive." It puts the viewer at ease and suggests a lack of motion, stillness, or even a sense of order. Think of the horizon of a sunset or a figure lying down.

Characteristics of Line

Direction - Horizontal, vertical, diagonal, radial, curved, squiggly, implied, or psychic.

Length - Long, short, continuous, or broken

Width - Thick, thin, uneven, or tapered

Quality - Comes from how we draw the line, i.e., gestural, quickly, confidently, or carefully; robust and bold mark vs. weak mark, dark, highly contrasted mark vs. light or little contrast mark.

Focus comes from edges, which can be sharp, firm, soft, or lost. Note that we often perceive natural lines as changes in color, value, or edges.

Line Types

There are many line types, they include the follow.

Thick & Thin Lines

CONTINUOUS It is a solid line that may lead the eye in certain directions. WIDTH The thickness of the line THICK - Represents: STRENGTH THIN - Represents Fragile or delicate

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Horizontal

HORIZONTAL Straight from left to right or right to left Emotional: PASSIVE conveys STILLNESS, A LACK OF MOTION, or REST Spatially: STATIC Represents: CALM, PEACE, TRANQUILITY, or REPOSE For Example, a landscape or the line of the ocean in a sunset

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Vertical

VERTICAL Straight from up to down Emotional: PASSIVE, however, conveys a sense of ALERTNESS. Spatially: STATIC but may indicate HEIGHT or ELONGATION. Represents: DIGNITY, STRENGTH, PERMANENCE, or STABILITY For Example, a tall tree trunk, a building, or the gesture of a person standing up

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Diagonal Line

DIAGONAL Slanted or Angled Emotionally: ACTIVE conveys MOVEMENT, INTENSITY, or LACK OF STABILITY. Spatially: DYNAMIC may indicate depth when using the linear perspective drawing system. Represents: COMBAT, CONFUSION, or CLASH For Example, an object falling or about to fall, i.e., a tree that has just been axed, i.e., much more visually intense than vertical or horizontal lines

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Curved Line

CURVED OR PARABOLA Not straight, organic, or natural Emotionally: ACTIVE Spatially: DYNAMIC Represents: EXCITEMENT, ELASTICITY, or ACTIVITY; Nonthreatening Example: Found as contours for biological objects or materials

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Curved Line

SEMI-CIRCLE OR ARC Curved with a consistent radius Emotionally: ACTIVE Spatially: DYNAMIC Represents: EXCITEMENT, ELASTICITY, or ACTIVITY Example: Found as contours for biological objects or materials

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Implied Line

BROKEN A line that is not continuous or missing pieces. IMPLIED A series of points or marks that the eye automatically follows or the brain connects together; a line of dots or dashes. Emotionally: ACTIVE or PASSIVE, depending on the direction, may express the ephemeral or the insubstantial. Spatially: DYNAMIC or STATIC, depending on the direction Represents: direction or suggestion of the direction Example: A trail of crumbs, a group of cars one behind another, a group of people in line at a concert, or a grid line

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Psychic Line

PSYCHIC An invisible line runs from one element to another; our eyes follow it, creating a "line" in our mind's eye. Emotionally: ACTIVE or PASSIVE, depending on the direction Spatially: DYNAMIC or STATIC, depending on the direction Represents: direction or suggestion of the direction Example: sign pointing in a particular direction or someone's eyes staring in a specific direction

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Squiggle Lines

CREATION How the line is made FREEHAND May express the personal energy of the maker and influence the mood or emotion MECHANICAL Digital or drafting made with a ruler for accuracy or precision may express rigid control SQUIGGLE A short line that irregularly curls & loops. JAGGED It is not a straight line but has angles or pointed elements. Emotionally: ACTIVE Spatially: DYNAMIC Represents: Curved = ORGANIC, not man-made; Jagged = ANXIETY or TURMOIL Example: Freehand-drawn lines could be used for shading

Examples of Line in Design

Andrew Loomis, an illustrator from the 20th century, shows the best examples of this concept in his Creative Illustration Book.

From the Creative Illustration Book by Andrew Loomis

The Dot and the Line

Have you heard of The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics? It was a short love story written in 1963, which became a film produced by MGM. This 10-minute animation shows multiple line types, and the narrator describes their emotional content. Look it up on YouTube!

Creating numerous varieties of lines and understanding how to manipulate them will enable you to use lines to your advantage when mastering the art of drawing. What types of lines are you using?

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